Andre Russell Announces T20I Retirement with Farewell Set at Sabina Park

Andre Russell, one of West Indies’ most explosive allrounders, is calling time on his international career. The 37-year-old will bow out after the first two T20Is against Australia at his beloved Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica.

Russell, who’s been a T20I specialist for West Indies since 2019, finishes his international career with 84 T20I appearances, scoring 1078 runs and taking 61 wickets. But his impact goes far beyond stats. He was part of two T20 World Cup-winning sides — in 2012 and 2016 — and has built a fearsome reputation across global T20 leagues. With over 560 matches under his belt, Russell has smashed 9316 runs at a strike-rate of 168.31 and picked up 485 wickets. 

“This moment is hard to put into words,” Russell said. “To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life. When I was a kid, I didn’t expect to reach this level, but the more I played, the more I fell in love with the game. That pushed me to become better. I always wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and be someone others could look up to.” 

Russell’s decision comes just seven months before the next T20 World Cup, which will take place in India and Sri Lanka in February 2026. His announcement caught many by surprise, including the West Indies selectors, who reportedly weren’t expecting it. It also follows the recent international retirement of Nicholas Pooran, making Russell the second big name to step away from West Indies duty in just under two months. 

West Indies head coach Daren Sammy, who has seen Russell up close both as a captain and now from the dugout, paid a heartfelt tribute. “Andre has always been the consummate professional and a fierce competitor. Whether I was captaining him or now coaching him, his hunger to perform and win for West Indies has never wavered. I wish him all the best in this next chapter and hope he keeps inspiring the next generation.” 

Matthew Forde has been named as Russell’s replacement in the squad for the remaining matches of the Australia series in St Kitts. In the same squad announcement, young guns Jewel Andrew and Jediah Blades have earned their first T20I call-ups. Andrew, just 17, made headlines during CPL 2024 when he became the youngest West Indian — and second youngest overall — to score a fifty in a major T20 league. He’s currently playing for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Global Super League.